Washstand height-adjusting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a washstand height-adjusting apparatus that can freely adjust the height of a washstand for convenience of a user. The washstand height-adjustment apparatus according to the present invention comprises a fixed guide fixed to a wall; a moving guide combined with the fixed guide to slidably move in a vertical direction; a cover plate to which a washstand with a drainpipe and pipes for supplying cool and hot water is mounted, wherein the cover plate is fixed to the moving guide; and a driving means installed at the upper portion of the fixed guide and coupled to the lower portion of the cover plate. Therefore, the cover plate and the washstand are moved upward or downward by operation of the driving means. According to the present invention, a tall or small person, particularly a child, can freely adjust the height of the washstand to fit it to his physical feature so that he can conveniently use the washstand without strain on the user&#39;s waist. Also, there is no need to use an auxiliary means for a small person or child to meet the height of a washstand, and thus possible accidents by the auxiliary means can be prevented.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting theheight of a washstand and, more particularly, to a washstandheight-adjusting apparatus that can freely adjust the height of awashstand for convenience of a user.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In general, a washstand is installed and fixed at a certainheight, and so the height of a washstand cannot be freely adjustedaccording to a user's stature.

[0003] A user with a stature suitable for using a washstand with a fixedheight conveniently uses the washstand. However, a taller or smallerperson than the height of a washstand experiences inconvenience in usingthe washstand. That is, a taller person than the height of a washstandshould inconveniently stoop over or down whenever he uses the washstand.Frequent stooping over or down can cause pain in the back, and a purseor coins in a pocket of an upper garment can come out of the pocket.

[0004] In contrary to the case described above, when a smaller person orchild than the height of a washstand uses the washstand, the user shouldstretch his back since the height of the washstand is higher than thestature of the user so that the user's clothes usually get wet in water.Also, when the user stands on an auxiliary means to meet the height ofthe washstand, the user may slip and fall from the auxiliary means andbe wounded.

[0005] The present invention has been invented in order to solve theabove-mentioned problems encountered in using a conventional washstand.An object of the present invention is to provide a washstandheight-adjusting apparatus that can freely adjust the height of awashstand for convenience of a user.

[0006] To achieve the above object, a washstand height-adjustingapparatus according to the present invention comprises a fixed guidefixed to a wall; a moving guide combined with the fixed guide toslidably move in a vertical direction; a cover plate to which awashstand with a drain pipe and pipes for supplying cool and hot wateris mounted, the cover plate being fixed to the moving guide; and adriving means installed at the upper portion of the fixed guide, and thedriving means being coupled to the lower portion of the cover plate. Thecover plate and the washstand are moved upward or downward according toan operation of the driving means.

[0007] The driving means of the washstand height-adjusting apparatusaccording to the present invention comprises a motor connected to aswitch means; a pulley meshed with gears being coupled to a shaft of themotor; and a wire on which gears are formed for meshing with the pulley.One end of the wire is fixed to the pulley and the other end isconnected to the lower portion of the cover plate. Therefore, the wireis wound around the pulley or released from the pulley according arotating direction of the pulley.

[0008] The washstand height-adjusting apparatus of the present inventionfurther comprises lead switches installed on the upper and lowerportions of the moving guide, respectively, and connected to the drivingmeans for restricting excessive movement of the cover plate; magneticbodies installed on the upper and lower portions of the cover plate,respectively, whereby the lead switches control operation of the drivingmeans when the cover plate reaches to the upper limit or the lower limitso that the cover plate can move within the restricted range.

[0009] According to the present invention, a taller or smaller person,particularly a child and a physically handicapped person, can freelyadjust the height of the washstand to fit one's physical feature so thatthe user can conveniently use the washstand without strain on the user'swaist. Also, there is no need to use an auxiliary means for a smallperson or child to fit the height of a washstand to his stature, andthus possible accidents caused by the auxiliary means may be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill be more clearly understood from the following detailed descriptionin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a driving means of thewashstand height-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a view for explaining operation of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention toshow a position that the washstand is moved upward;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a view for explaining operation of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention toshow a position that the washstand is moved downward; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a front view in which the cover plate of the presentinvention is removed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the samereference numerals are used throughout the different drawings toindicate the same or similar components.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a disassembled perspective view of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a driving means of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention;FIG. 3 is a view for explaining operation of the washstandheight-adjusting apparatus in accordance with the present invention toshow a position that the washstand is moved upward; and FIG. 4 is a viewfor explaining operation of the washstand height-adjusting apparatus inaccordance with the present invention to show a form that the washstandis moved downward. FIG. 5 is a front view in which the cover plate ofthe present invention is removed.

[0018] In the washstand height-adjusting apparatus in accordance withthe present invention, a moving guide 2 is combined to a fixed guide 1which is fixed to a wall to enable the moving guide 2 to verticallyslide along the fixed guide 1. A cover plate 3 is fixed and combined tothe moving guide 2 so that the moving guide 2 cannot be separated fromthe fixed guide 1.

[0019] The lower portion of the fixed guide 1 is coupled to the lowerportion of the cover plate 3 via springs 4, a driving means 10 having apulley 6 for winding a wire 5 is installed in the fixed guide 1. Thewire 5 is connected to the pulley 6 and wound around the pulley 6. Theend of the wire 5 is connected to the lower portion of the cover plate 3so that the cover plate 3 can be vertically moved by operation of thedriving means 10 and a spring 4. An upper lead switch 13 is mounted tothe upper portion of the moving guide 2, and a lower lead switch 14 ismounted to the lower portion of the moving guide 2. Magnetic bodies 15and 16 are under the upper and lower portions of the fixed guide 1,respectively. Magnetic bodies 15 and 16 contact the upper and lower leadswitches 13 and 14, respectively, when the moving guide 2 is verticallymoved. Therefore, the vertical height of the cover plate 3 can berestricted by operation of the lead switches 13 and 14 due to magneticbodies 15 and 16.

[0020] At the rear side of the cover plate 3, pipes for supplying coldand hot water are installed using coil pipes 8 at a position to whichthe washstand 7 will be attached. The washstand 7 is combined and fixedto the cover plate 3. The ends of the coil pipes 8 are coupled to thetaps for cold and hot water, which are already mounted to the washstand7. An antenna-type drainpipe 9 is connected to a drain port of thewashstand 7. Also, a mirror or a cabinet may be attached to the upperportion of the cover plate 3.

[0021] The driving means 10 comprises the wire 5 on which a gear isformed, the pulley 6 around which the wire 5 is wound, a plurality ofgears 10 meshed with each other, and a motor 12. One of the gears 10 isgeared with the pulley 6, and another of the gears 10 is geared with ashaft of the motor 10. Therefore, when a switching means (not shown inthe Drawings) is turned on to operate the motor 12, the wire 5 is woundaround the pulley 6 or released from the pulley 6. At this time, aconventional switch may be used as the switch means of the invention,but it is more effective to use a speech recognition switch that hasbeen recently developed.

[0022] The operational effect of the washstand height-adjustingapparatus in accordance with the present invention will be describedherein below.

[0023] When a user needs to adjust the height of the washstand, the userturns on the driving means 10 installed in the inner side of the coverplate 3. That is, when the motor 12 of the driving means 10 is operatedaccording to manipulation of the switch means, the gears 11 meshed withthe shaft of the motor 12 are rotated, and thus the pulley 6 is rotated.

[0024] At this time, although a conventional up-down switch may be usedas the switch means, it is more effective to use a speech recognitionswitch that has been recently developed. The apparatus of the presentinvention is installed and used in a place where water is used. Thespeech recognition switch is waterproofed and may be fixed to the innersurface of the cover plate 3 to improve the appearance and thewaterproof effect. In this way, trouble of the switch due to water canbe prevented.

[0025] When the motor 12 and the gear 11 rotates the pulley 6, the wire5 is wound around or released from the pulley 6 so that the cover plate3 is moved upward or downward.

[0026] When a user selects the “up” mode of the switch means to move thecover plate 3 upwardly, the motor 12 of the driving means 10 isoperated. The rotational force of the motor 12 is transmitted to andreduced by the gears 11. Then, the reduced rotational force istransmitted to the pulley 6 to rotate it. Thus, the wire 5 is woundaround the rotating pulley 6. When the wire 5 is wound around the pulley6, the cover plate 3 is moved upward due to the wire 5, and the movingguide 2 fixed to the cover plate 3 is slid upward along the fixed guide1. At this time, the resilient force of the springs 4 fixed between thelower portion of the fixed guide 1 and the lower portion of the coverplate 3 assists smooth upward movement of the cover plate 3.

[0027] When the washstand 7 reaches a desired height, the user controlsthe switch means to halt an operation of the motor 12 of the drivingmeans 10, thus the rotation of the gears 11 and the pulley 6 is stoppedand the upward movement of the washstand 7 is stopped (see FIG. 3). Atthis time, since the wire 5 on which the gear is formed is meshed withthe pulley 6, the wire 5 wound around pulley 6 cannot be released fromthe pulley 6 though the pulley 6 is not rotated.

[0028] Although the washstand 7 reaches the upper limit, the washstand 7is continuously moved upward if a user does not control the switchmeans. The lead switch 14 is used as a safety device to prevent safetyaccidents. When the washstand 7 reaches the upper limit, the lead switch14 installed at the lower portion of the moving guide 2 comes close tothe magnetic body 16 located at the lower portion of the fixed guide 1,and thus the lead switch 14 is operated. The power supplied to thedriving means 10 is stopped due to operation of the lead switch 14 andthe motor 12 is not operated so that the pulley 6 is not rotated and theupward movement of the washstand 7 is halted.

[0029] When a user selects the “down” mode of the switch means to movethe cover plate 3 downwardly, the motor 12 of the driving means 10 isreversely operated. The rotational force of the motor 12 is transmittedto the gears 11 and is reduced by the gears. Then, the reducedrotational force is transmitted to the pulley 6 to rotate the pulley 6to the opposite rotating direction of the pulley 6 when the cover plate3 is moved upward. Then, the wound wire 5 is released from the rotatingpulley 6. When the wire 5 is released from the pulley 6, the cover plate3, the moving guide 2, and the washstand 7 are moved downward due totheir weights. The moving guide 2 fixed to the cover plate 3 is sliddownward along the fixed guide 1 by release of the wire 5 and reactionforce of the spring 4 fixed between the lower portion of the fixed guide1 and the lower portion of the cover plate 3.

[0030] When the washstand 7 reaches a desired height, the user controlsthe switch means to halt operation of the motor 12 of the driving means10, and so the rotation of the gears 11 and the pulley 6 is stopped andthe downward movement of the washstand 7 is stopped (see FIG. 4).

[0031] Although the washstand 7 reaches the lower limit, the washstand 7is continuously moved downward if a user does not control the switchmeans. The present invention uses the lead switch 13 as a safety deviceto prevent safety accidents. When the washstand 7 reaches the lowerlimit, the lead switch 13 installed at the upper portion of the movingguide 2 comes close to the magnetic body 15 located at the upper portionof the fixed guide 1, and thus the lead switch 13 is operated. The powersupplied to the driving means 10 is stopped due to operation of the leadswitch 13 and the motor 12 is not operated so that the pulley 6 is notrotated and the downward movement of the washstand 7 is halted.

[0032] Also, when the cover plate 3 is moved upward or downward, thespring 4 connecting the lower portion of the fixed guide 1 to the lowerportion of the cover plate 3 performs a complementary role to enable thecover plate 3 to smoothly move downward or upward by the nature of thespring 4.

[0033] Moreover, since the coil pipes 8 are used as the pipes forsupplying cold and hot water, the coil pipes 6 are extended or shrunkwhen the washstand 7 is moved upward or downward so that the upward anddownward movement of the washstand 7 is not affected by the coil pipes8. Also, since the antenna-type drainpipe 9 is used as a drainpipe, theantenna-type drainpipe 9 is extended when the washstand 7 is movedupward. On the contrary, when the washstand 7 is moved downward, theantenna-type drainpipe 9 is retracted.

[0034] According to the present invention as described above, a talleror smaller person, especially a child and a physically handicappedperson, can adjust freely the height of the washstand to fit it to hisphysical feature so that he can conveniently use the washstand withoutstrain on the user's waist. Also, there is no need to use an auxiliarymeans for a small person or child to fit his stature to the height ofthe washstand, and thus possible accidents by an auxiliary means may beprevented.

[0035] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible without departing from the scope and core of the presentinvention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. An apparatus for adjusting a height of washstand, comprising: a fixedguide fixed to wall; a moving guide combined with the fixed guide to beslidably move in vertical direction; a cover plate to which a mirror anda washstand having a drain pipe and pipes for supplying a cool water andhot water are mounted, the cover plate being fixed to the moving guideand connected to the fixed guide by a spring for assisting a smoothvertical movement thereof, the pipes for supplying a cool water and hotwater being coil pipes and the drain pipe being an antenna type pipe;and a driving means installed on an upper portion. of the fixed guide,the driving means comprising a motor connected to a switch means; apulley meshed with gears being coupled to a shaft of the motor; and awire being able to wind around the pulley, one end of the wire beingfixed to the pulley and another end being connected to a lower portionof the cover plate, whereby the wire is wound around pulley or releasedfrom the pulley according to a rotating direction of the pulley so thatthe cover plate and the washstand are moved upward or downward inresponse to an operation of the driving means.
 2. The apparatus foradjusting a height of washstand of claim 1, further comprises: leadswitches installed on an upper and lower portions of the moving guiderespectively, the lead switches being connected to the driving means forrestricting an excessive movement of the cover plate; and magneticbodies installed on an upper and lower portions of the cover plate,resepectively, whereby the lead switches control an operation of thedriving means when the cover plate reaches to an upper limited point ora lower limited point so that the cover plate can be moved within therestricted range.
 3. The apparatus for adjusting a height of washstandof claim 1, wherein the switch means is an up-down switch or a soundrecognition switch.